Page 230 - Handbook of Biomechatronics

Upper-Limb Prosthetic Devices 227

3 TRENDS FOR THE FUTURE THAT CAN ENABLE
BIOMECHATRONICS UPPER-LIMB PROSTHESES
The following are technology trends that could enable the fastest
creation of advanced biomechatronic hands and arms.

3.1 Personalization/3D Printing/Fast Prototyping

Modern 3D printing technology can enable personalization where it did not
exist before. For example, in order to achieve versatility, one could print tools/
extensions of the hand and attach them on a “demand basis.” A growing child
could print components as it grows. A farmer could print a “tool” and attach it
to his modular prosthesis. A new socket could be fabricated on demand at the
prosthetic facility or even at the person’s home 3D printer.
3D printing could eventually enable what we expressed as ideal at
Section 1.2.2, via the versatility of functional endpoint tools that the rapid
manufacturing could provide at home.
Another aspect might be customization after surgery. For example, new
control sites are created with TMR, the appropriate components for inte-
gration of the extra DoF are printed at the hospital and the controller is tuned
right there.

3.2 Many-DoFs

Artificial intelligence, pattern recognition (Section 2.3.1) and targeted muscle
reinnervation (TMR) (Section 2.5) are enabler technologies which have and
will make many-DoF prosthetic arms closer to the ideal or surpass the ideal
(see Section 1.2.2) as we perceive now [Interview of Hugh Herr at (Kiss,
2015)]. Independent DoFs do not have to be that independent as described
by the “ideal” paradigm (Section 1.2.2), since now the pattern recognition
module could identify what the pattern is and decide on what the intended
action is. This is a way that was not possible in the past and is certainly another
wayofachievingthe“ideal.”Themissingfunctionalitynowisthesubconscious
control, still the integrated perception that the human should have for an
advanced “ideal” prosthetic arm or hand. Work on sensory neural integration
or biomechatronic EPP are technologies which could help address that gap.

3.3 Osseointegration and Osseoperception
Osseointegration is a technique that could help on integrating the prosthesis
with the remaining body in a harmonized way with many benefits.